Amusement device



E N O T s D F AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet lIIIHIIHIHIIHHIHIHIHIHIIIIIII Jan. 16,1940. F, TO E msmw AMUSEMENT DEVICEFiled April 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mai N ENTO l WK (A? $1 ATTOPatented Jan. 16, 1940 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICEFrank J. Stone, Arlington, Mass.

Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,656

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device.

In general the invention has for an object to provide a novel and highlyentertaining amusement device embodying finger actuated characters,which may be economically manufactured,

in which the characters may be readily and inexpensively varied toprovide different styles of entertainment and which is particularlyadapted for use by children.

With this general object in View and suc others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists the amusement device and in the variousstructures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter describedand particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating the amusement device in position to be operated; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stage; Fig. 3 isa front elevation of a typical character; Figs. l and 5 are side andfront elevations respectively of a modified form of the stage in whichall the five fingers may be used to display characters; Figs. 6 and '7are side elevations and plan views respectively of a modification of thestage shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a stagesetting representing a dwelling house in which the characters appearthrough the open Windows and the doorway; Fig. 9 is a modified form ofthe rubber thimble, and Figs. it) and ii are side elevation and frontviews respectively of a modified form of. attachment.

In general, the invention contemplates an amusement device whereinfinger actuated charesters are utilized in imitation of animated figuresto provide entertainment, particularly for children. The characters maybe selected from a great variety of fields such as from human life,animal life, bird life and, in addition, may include inanimate objectssuch as the alphabet. The characters may and preferably will be formedas a part of or attached to thin rubber thimbles designed to beconveniently slipped over the fingers and the amusement device furthercontemplates a stage or setting for the characters, one

form of which is capable of being manually held,

and upon which the characters may be actuated by the fingers to imitateanimate characters in action, provision being preferably made to enablethe stage to be held in the palm of the hand, and some or all of thefingers used to actuate the cl'iaracters. In addition to its utility asan amusement device in which grotesque characters or figures are used,the present invention may be used to advantage as an educational toy inwhich the figures maybe used to represent well-known characters ofhistory, stage or screen, etc., and thus in use, the toy may serve as anaid in developing dramatic ability in the child using the of forms, andwhich is preferably made of cardboard or other inexpensive material, andthe face of the material may have appropriate designs Hll printedthereon. As herein shown, the cardboard stage is provided with anopening 22, cut out of the cardboard and the portion. thus cut out maybe folded to extend outwardly from the face of the stage to provide aflat surface it and a second fold made in the cut out portion forms adepending section it upon which a suitable design 23, such as anorchestra, may be printed.

As herein illustrated, the stage is, in one form of the invention, to beheld in the hand, and to this end, an extended portion 30, suitablyshaped to fit in the palm of the hand, is provided at the lower end ofthe stage. The stage is preferably arranged to be secured tothe hand,and as herein shown, by elastic bands 32, M, and the extension so may beslotted to form tab portions 3t, 38 over which the elastics are hooked.

In the use of the device, the lower elastic band M is extended aroundthe back of the hand and the upper elastic 32 extended around the thumband little finger, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The forwarddepending section 26 of the stage may be grasped between the thumb andthe little finger, as illustrated, and the tension in the band 32assists in retaining a firm grasp while the lower portion of the stagerests against the back of the thumb and little finger, the result beingto attach the stage securely to the hand and leaving the central fingersof the hand free to manipulate and move the characters in imitation ofanimated figures in back of the stage.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, as therein illustrated, a modified formof the device may comprise a stage it: adapted to be held in a block t2provided with a slot 44 into which the stage is inserted. With thisconstruction, the operator is permitted to use all five fingers of thehand to display different characters. When in use, the block #2 may beplaced on the edge of a table it, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to permitmaximum freedom of movement of the hand. Figs. 6 land?illustratemasimilai form of stage which may be self-supporting and whichcomprises an upright portion 46 and a base portion 48 formed by cuttingslits in the lower portion of the stage and folding the alternate tabs5!], 52, thus formed 5 in opposite directions and at right angles to theupright portion of the stage.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the fingers to whichthe characters are attached will extend upwardly in back of the stageand will appear through the opening 22. It will also be seen that bymanipulating the fingers the characters will appear to be animated andthat many amusing scenes may be depicted, providing entertainment,particularly for children. The thimbles bearing the characters may bequickly and easily exchanged and the action varied over wide fields.When using the device, the operator may simulate the Voices of thedifferent characters and by twisting and moving 30 the figures at thesame time, in the manner of a ventriloquist, may add greatly to theamusement afforded.

It will, of course, be apparent that a wide variety of stage settingsmay be provided to suit the different characters represented. Inpractice,

it is also contemplated to use the device in imitation of plays andsketches in which the characters may represent well-known figures ofhistory, literature, art, etc., whereby the toy may be employed as aneducational feature as well as for the purpose of entertainment. In someinstances, plays may be produced in which more than five characersappear and in such case, both hands may be provided with thimbles iii torepresent the characters. Scenery for such plays may extend over a widearea and may include buildings representing a town or a city, thebuildings having cut-out portions in place of the windows and doors,through which the characters may be seen as they pass through the backof the stage. As herein shown, Fig. 8 represents a scene of a typicaldwelling house ti l which may be supported on the edge of a table orshelf and in which more than five characters appear through the openings56 cut out where the doors and windows occur.

A modified form of the thimble or cot provided with characters is shownin Fig. 9 upon which more than one character appears, and, as hereinshown, different characters 58, iii may be represented upon two or moresides of the cot so that by turning the fingers around to face theaudience a new character may be made to appear Without changing the cot.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of stage designed to beattached to the wrist of the operator, whereby all the fingers of thehand may be used to display characters and, as herein shown, elasticbands 62, 6d, hooked over the slotted portions 66, 63 may extend aroundthe wrist to provide the attachment, leaving the fingers of the handfree to manipulate the characters.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the handdisposed in back of the stage, a plurality of characters adapted forattachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement of themiddle fingers of the same hand.

2. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the handdisposed in back of the stage, a plurality of characters adapted forattachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby enabling theoperator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement ofthe middle fingers of the hand,

and means for securing the stage to the palm of the same hand.

3. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the handdisposed in back of the stage, a plurality of rubber thimbles bearingcharacters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of 'said handthereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon thestage by movement of the middle fingers of the same hand.

4. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the handdisposed in back of the stage, a plurality of rubber thimbles bearingcharacters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of said handthereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon thestage by movement of the middle fingers of the hand, and means forsecuring the stage in the palm of the same hand.

5. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in the palm of the hand and including a tab memberdepending from the stage adapted to engage the palm of the hand, elasticmeans extending around the back of the hand and secured to said tabmember and a plurality of characters adapted for attachment to themiddle fingers of said hand thereby permitting the operator to imitateanimated characters upon the stage by manipulation of the fingers.

6. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stagecapable of being held in the palm of the hand and having a tab dependingtherefrom adapted to engage the palm of the hand, an upper and a lowerelastic hand, both being attached to the tab and adapted respectively toencircle the thumb and little finger to yieldingly hold the same againstthe face of the stage and to encircle the lower portion of the hand, andcharacters adapted to be secured to the middle fingers of the handthereby permitting the operator to imitate animated characters upon thestage upon movement of the fingers.

'7. An amusement device comprising a stage constructed to be capable ofbeing held in the palm of the hand with the middle fingers disposed inthe rear of the stage, elastic means for retaining the stage in the handand rubber thimbles bearing characters adapted to be placed over themiddle fingers of the hand thereby permitting the operator to imitateanimated characters upon the stage upon movement of the fingers.

8; A stage adapted for use in an amusement device of the characterdescribed, comprising a stage forming portion and a depending portionadapted to engage the palm of the hand, and resilient fastening meansadapted for cooperation with the hand to retain the stage in the hand.

FRANK J. STONE.

